Project description:We performed a SLAMseq Metabolic RNA Labeling on neuronal subcellular compartments, e.g. neurites and soma, derived from Ascl1-induced neurons (iNeurons). This experimental approach provides a snapshot of mRNA kinetics which allows to estimate the half-lives of mRNAs. These data was used to investigate the influence of mRNA degradation machinery in both neuronal compartments.
Project description:We have perturbed mRNA degradation machinery and investigated the change in subcellular localization of mRNA in Ascl1-induced neurons (iNeurons). Mutant iNeuron line harbouring a ponasteroneA-inducible heterozygous dominant-negative Caf1 (dnCaf1) was generated, separated into neuronal compartments (soma and neurites) and sequenced in parallel with compartments from the Wild Type iNeurons (WT). Differential localization of mRNA between soma and neurites in the WT was then compared to the localization in dnCaf1 in order to identify the changes in localization.
Project description:We performed SlamSeq (thiol(SH)-linked alkylation for metabolic sequencing) to estimate mRNA half-lives in subcellular compartments (neurites, soma-cytoplasm and nucleus) of primary cortical neurons.
Project description:We have perturbed mRNA degradation machinery and investigated the change in subcellular localization of mRNA in mouse primary cortical neurons (mPCNs). Mutant mPCN line harbouring a ponasteroneA-inducible heterozygous dominant-negative Caf1 (dnCaf1) was generated, separated into neuronal compartments (soma and neurites) and sequenced in parallel with compartments from the GFP-transfected cells (GFP, negative control).
Project description:We report a conserved transcriptomic signature of reduced fatty acid and lipid metabolism gene expression in human post-mortem ALS spinal cord and a Drosophila model of the most common genetic cause of FTD/ALS, a repeat expansion in C9orf72. To investigate lipid alterations, we performed lipidomics on C9FTD/ALS iPSC-neurons and post-mortem FTLD brain tissue. This revealed a common and specific reduction in phospholipid species containing polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). To determine whether this PUFA deficit contributes to neurodegeneration, we fed C9FTD/ALS flies PUFAs, which yielded a modest increase in survival. However, increasing PUFA levels specifically in neurons of the C9orf72 flies, by overexpressing fatty acid desaturase enzymes, led to a substantial extension of lifespan. Neuronal overexpression of fatty acid desaturases also suppressed stressor induced neuronal death in C9FTD/ALS patient iPSC-neurons. These data implicate neuronal fatty acid saturation in the pathogenesis of FTD/ALS and suggest that interventions to increase PUFA levels specifically within neurons will be beneficial.
Project description:To study the correlation between mRNA stability and subcellular mRNA localisation we globally interferred with mRNA degradation in primary cortical neurons by overexpressing a catalytic mutant of deadenylase CAF1 that functions as a dominant negative form. Neurons were separated into subcellular compartments (neurite, soma-cytoplasm and nucleus) and sequenced in parallel with respective compartments from GFP- expressing control neuons.